The first official day of winter was December 21, but early winter-weather made it a busy pre-season for Lac La Biche County snow crews for the past few weeks.
According to Randi Dupras, Lac La Biche County’s manager of public works, municipal operations have been very busy with daily snow and ice control.
“We have already experienced a high volume of snow this early in the season, but we have kept up with the demand and continued to ensure that all our roads are safe and clear,” Dupras told Lakeland This Week.
Snow pickup, Dupras continued, occurs after five to 10 centimetres of hard-packed snow has accumulated. This depends on the location of the snowfall, such as rural, urban, or business areas in Lac La Biche County.
County personnel and equipment, Dupras said, are responsible for completing snow pickup. She added that local contractors are also used to supplement the in-house efforts.
Snow removal from streets is also promoted to motorists ahead of time with signage in the community and social media posts.While the snow removal makes life easier for local motorists, the process also has some pitfalls for vehicle owners who ignore snow clearing signs in neighbourhoods. Penalties, including having vehicles towed, are part of the municipality's regular snow removal policies.
Snow dump
Where is all that snow deposited, especially during times when the municipality receives large quantities of it?
“Lac La Biche County has a variety of snow dump sites, which align with the Snow Disposal Guidelines set by the Province of Alberta,” Dupras stated.
Regarding how much the County has spent on snow removal so far compared to other years, as Dupras explains, the total varies year over year – just like the weather.
“We will have a more definite estimate close to the end of this season,” she said.
